Jonesboro woman sentenced to 4 years for tax fraud

JONESBORO, Ga. (AP) A tax preparer from Jonesboro who received nearly $7 million in fraudulent returns has been sentenced to more than four years in prison. <br /> <br /> Anita Ford operated Georgia Peach Financial & Fast Tax Service. Prosecutors said she manipulated the tax data of thousands of clients from 2004 to 2012. <br /> <br /> Authorities said Ford made up fake businesses to offset income tax liability for her clients. She previously pleaded guilty. <br /> <br /> WXIA-TV reports that an undercover IRS agent posed as a new client in 2011. While the tax return entitled that undercover agent to a $400 refund, Ford said the undercover agent would only receive $200. Prosecutors said Ford also created a fake beauty salon on paper with $30,000 in expenses, then filed a return for the fake business. <br />